Borough presents five‑year capital plan, flags $1.2 million in next‑year projects and funding shortfall
August 23, 2025 | Narberth, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
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The borough’s administration presented a draft five‑year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) on Aug. 21 showing 94 uncompleted capital projects, including 30 items classified as urgent and roughly $1.2 million in projects scheduled for next year.
The plan is a planning document, not an appropriation. Staff told council the CIP will inform the 2026 budget discussion and urged pursuit of state and federal grants, use of a modest general‑fund transfer and reserve management to avoid deferring urgent projects.
Why it matters: The CIP lays out multi‑year investments for roads, parks, stormwater/MS4 compliance, municipal building needs and other infrastructure. Staff warned that under current funding assumptions the capital fund balance would be insufficient to cover next year’s proposed projects without additional revenue or grants.
Key points presented: Staff said the borough currently tracks 94 capital items (an increase from last year after adding Master Parks Plan projects). Thirty items scored as urgent should not be deferred. Next‑year estimated project costs total about $1,200,000, and the borough’s operating/capital balance stands near $1.0 million; under a baseline scenario the CIP showed a roughly $381,000 shortfall for 2026 if no transfers or grants are added.
Staff outlined several funding scenarios: 1) baseline (use current capital balance only), 2) one‑time general fund transfer (example $300,000), 3) recurring annual transfers and 4) recurring transfers plus anticipated grant reimbursements (staff modelled grant reimbursements at 50% of eligible project costs as a conservative assumption). The plan flagged that an Amtrak/PennDOT down‑payment the borough made will be returned as a reimbursement in later years (an item modelled in 2029 as a $735,014 inflow).
Council reaction and next steps: Council members asked staff to prepare the CIP for formal adoption next month as part of the 2026 budget process and requested the draft supporting report be posted for public review. Staff said they will continue aggressive grant pursuit and recommended the council consider increasing the annual general‑fund transfer to the capital fund during budget deliberations.
No formal appropriation was made at the meeting; staff will present the finalized CIP for adoption at the next council meeting and include any council direction in the 2026 budget.
The plan is a planning document, not an appropriation. Staff told council the CIP will inform the 2026 budget discussion and urged pursuit of state and federal grants, use of a modest general‑fund transfer and reserve management to avoid deferring urgent projects.
Why it matters: The CIP lays out multi‑year investments for roads, parks, stormwater/MS4 compliance, municipal building needs and other infrastructure. Staff warned that under current funding assumptions the capital fund balance would be insufficient to cover next year’s proposed projects without additional revenue or grants.
Key points presented: Staff said the borough currently tracks 94 capital items (an increase from last year after adding Master Parks Plan projects). Thirty items scored as urgent should not be deferred. Next‑year estimated project costs total about $1,200,000, and the borough’s operating/capital balance stands near $1.0 million; under a baseline scenario the CIP showed a roughly $381,000 shortfall for 2026 if no transfers or grants are added.
Staff outlined several funding scenarios: 1) baseline (use current capital balance only), 2) one‑time general fund transfer (example $300,000), 3) recurring annual transfers and 4) recurring transfers plus anticipated grant reimbursements (staff modelled grant reimbursements at 50% of eligible project costs as a conservative assumption). The plan flagged that an Amtrak/PennDOT down‑payment the borough made will be returned as a reimbursement in later years (an item modelled in 2029 as a $735,014 inflow).
Council reaction and next steps: Council members asked staff to prepare the CIP for formal adoption next month as part of the 2026 budget process and requested the draft supporting report be posted for public review. Staff said they will continue aggressive grant pursuit and recommended the council consider increasing the annual general‑fund transfer to the capital fund during budget deliberations.
No formal appropriation was made at the meeting; staff will present the finalized CIP for adoption at the next council meeting and include any council direction in the 2026 budget.
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